Fears for region's oyster industry

It is a tough time for Port Stephens oyster growers, with a mystery bug affecting production, and the region under threat from a major disease that has wiped out Pacific oyster crops further south.

Producers believe an algal build up is killing up to 30 per cent of Pacific Oyster stocks in some parts of the growing catchment, but they are still waiting for test results.

There are also fears the Pacific Oyster Mortalilty Syndrome could soon spread to Port Stephens.

It has recently forced some Hawkesbury growers out of business.

Port Stephens grower Richard Hamlyn-Harris says he has already lost 50 per cent of his summer crop due to flooding, and can not afford another knock.

"There's nothing we can do about the bug if it gets here then c'est la vie, and the only we can do to protect ourselves is possibly grow sydney rock oysters," he said.

Mr Hamyln-Harris says it is a matter of when, not if, the local industry becomes affected.

"It's a very difficult time and it's a very worrying time for those of us rely upon Pacific oysters for our incomes, there's a number of issues affecting our production and disaster is just around the corner as for those people in the Hawkesbury, who we feel for and we try and help them as we can but it's very difficult days," he said